Selective-circuit-controlling system



May 28, 1929. B. w. JONES 1,715,067

SELECTIVE CIRCUIT CONTROLLING SYSTEM Filed April 12, 1924 Inventor: BenJ am in W.Jones,

by WM H i s Attor ney Patented ;May 28, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

BENJAMIN W. JONES, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASS IGNOB. T0 GENERAL EEC-- TRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

snLEcr rvE-omcuIr-conrnomme SYSTEM.

Application filed April 12,

My invention relates to improvements in the selective control ofelectric circuits, particularly the circuits of a plurality of electric translating devices that are to be selectively energized from a common'supply conductor by the energization and deenergization of the conductor itself.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of an improved control arrangement that insures energization of a predetermined portion of the devices-upon the energization of .the supply conductor after a substantial period of deenergization while permitting the selective energization of a different portion of the devices by momentarily deenergizing the supply conductor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of 'a control system of the above character wherein an improved form of electroresponsive controlling device, such as claimed in my-divisional application, Serial No. 75,111, filed December 12, 1925, may be employed advantageously.

Although my improved selective control system may be readily adapted for various uses, it has particular advantage in systems for controlling the selective operation of a plurality of electric translating devices, such as systems for selectivelycontrolling the lighting of lamps of different candle power.

Under certain conditions, it is advisable to i provide a comparatively high de ree of illumination for a portion of the time and a comparatively low deg'ee of illumination during another portion 1? the time that it is' desired to have'artificial illumination. An example of this is found in street lighting systems in which at each point ofillumination there is provided a llarge high candle power lamp and a low candle power lamp, ordinarily in the same'globe. The high candle power lam is intended to be operated during the earl ier part of'thenight during which there would ordinarily be a greater demand for good illumination, andthe small lamp for the remainder of the night during which a comparatively small ficial illumination is needed.

Another of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple and effective arrangement whereby by simply opening and closing the circuit which feeds the translating devices, such as lam s or the like, the desired selection of the portion of the translating deamount of arti- 1924. Serial No. 706,190.

viceswhich is to be energized from the supply conductor is automatically accomplished.

A further object of the inventionv is to provide a selective control system wherein the selective controlling devices will all return to similar positions when the supplycircuit is opened for a sufficient interval of time.

In carrying my invention into'efiect in a selective control system and in the form which I now regard as the preferred form, I provide an electroresponsive switch mechanism, referably of the vimproved form describe and claimed in my divisional application, Serial No. 75,111, filed December 12, 1925, which is operated to automatically switch from .one translating device to anergization of the translating-device.

Forga better understanding of my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, wherein I have illustrated in very diagrammatic form an arrangementwhich I now regard as the vention,- a

Referring to the drawing, the translating devices to be selectively controlled are indicated as the lamps 10,11, 12'and 13, the lamps 10 and 12 being of comparatively high candle power and the lamps 11 and 13 of comparatively low candle power. The two lam s 10 preferred form of the inand 11 comprising one set will ordinari y be located at some" distance from the similar set of lamps 12 and 13, each set of lamps forming a single point of illumination. The set of lamps 10-11 'is selectively controlled by means of the selective switching device 14. This device comprises a pivoted switch member 15 which has a plurality of circuit closing positions, and which is biased to the position to which it is last thrown by means of a spring 16. By reason of the location of the pivot for the switch member 15, the connectio of the spring 16 with the switch member an the point of connection of the other end;

of the s ring, the arrangement forms an overcenter device which operates to eflect a quick closing of the circuit and to serve as a means for biasing the switch member in the position to WlllChlt is last thrown. The switch memher is operated from one circuit closing posisv tablish an energizing circuit for this lamp from the secondary of the transformer 19 included in the circuit of the supply conductor 20. The electromagnet 21 is providedfor magnetically holding the switch member in the positlon shown so that during the time in which it is desired to have the comparatively large value of illumination, the switch member will be magnetically held in position and thus practically eliminate the etl'ects of jars and shocks in opening the circuit of the large lamp 10. In the other position of the switch member, the large lamp 10 is deenergized and the small lamp 11 is energized. The lamps 12 and 13 are controlled by a similar selective switching device and I have indicated this in the drawing to disclose the fact that the invention is ap licable to the control of any desired num er of sets of translating devices.

It will be observed that I have indicated the system as an alternating current system in which the lamps are energized from the secondaries of current transformers, although I would have it understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to an alternating current system, since the invention is equally applicable to a direct current system, as will be understood b those skilled in the art from an understan ing of the invention.

As thus constructed and arranged and with the parts in the respective positions shown in the drawing, the operation of the invention is as follows:. v 1

Upon closing the disconnecting switch 22, which is employed to regulate the supply of energy to the-supply conductor 20, the lamps 10 and 12 will receive energy from the supply conductor and the thermostats 17 and23 will be heated responsively to the current taken by their respective controlled lamps. Inasmuch as lam s 12 and 13 are controlled in a manner identical "with the control of the lamps 10 and 11, I shall describe merely the operation of the selective switching device 14. When the thermostat 17 is heated by the resistor 18, it will flex and attempt to turn the switch member 15 clockwise about the pivot of the switch member against the action of the biasing spring 16 and against the holding effect of the electroma net 21. As long as the supply of energy to t e lamp 10 continues switch 22 may be located in a power and under the control of the attendant for the' the electromagnet 21 will prevent the switch member from being thrown to its other circuit closing position by the thermostat.

In order to extinguish the large lamp 10 and energize the small lamp 11, the disconnecting switch 22 will be opened, thereby deenergizing the lamp 10 and the holding elec-, tromagnet 21.- By reason of the fact that the thermostat 17 is flexed and will retain its heat foran appreciable interval, the flexing force of the thermostat prevails to act on the switch member 15 and turn this switch member clockwise against the action of the biasing spring 16 until the switch member is over center. When the switch member is thrown over center, the biasing spring 16 takes control of the same and operates the switch memberquickly to the circuit closing position and holds the same in that position. The inter-- ruption of the circuit for the large lamp 10- and the completion of the circuit forthe small lamp 11 will take a very small interval of time, so that if the switch 22 is again closed after a brief intervahthe lamp 11 will receive energy instead of the lamp 10. The current through the lamp 11 passes through the resistor or other heating device 18, so that the thermostat 17 is again flexed, but the flexing of this thermostat produces no effect on the operation of the switch member at this time. However, if the disconnecting switch 22 is again opened, the thermostat will attempt to straighten due to the cooling thereof and thus operate against the biasing action of the spring 16 to turn the switch member 15 counterclockwise about its pivot. When the switch'member is moved over center, the biasing spring 16 will take over the operation of the switch member and cause the switch memher to be moved quickly to the position indicatedin'the drawing, ready for the next operation;

It will be apparent from the above that by a proper operation of the disconnecting switch 22, the thermal responsive selective device 1 will be caused to automatically select the desired illumination. If, 'for any reason, the supply of power should fail, and the selective switching device thus operates to establish a selection not desired, the operator 'may ver quickly establish the desired illumination y the operation of the disconnecting switch 22. Thus, the disconnecting house electrical apparatus therein. Under some conditions, it ma be desirable to have one set of lamps in t e power house so that the attendant can at all times determine theillumination which is present in a system which may be located at-some distance from the power lant. f

It Wlll be observed that in case the switching devices for any reason do not all respond similarlv to the opening and closing of the thereto by reason of'the cooling of the thermostats. Thus, even though the synchronous operation of the switching devices does not proceed as intended during the night, the switching devices will all be in similar positions readyfor correct initial operation the following night.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States, is

1. The combination of a plurality of electric translating devices, a supply conductor for said devices, and electroresponsivecontrolling switch mechanism interconnected with said devices and conductor and selectively operable to efl'ect the separate energization of different portions of said devices in accordance'with' difierent periods of deenergization of the conductor following energization of each portion of the translating devices.

2. The combination of a plurality of electric translating devices, a supply conductor for said devices, and electroresponsive switch mechanism for separately energizing different portions of said devices from said conductor and arranged to effect the separate energization of a predetermined portion of said devices upon reenergization of said conductor after a substantial period of deenergization following energization of each portion of said devices and toefi'ectthe separate energization of a different portion of said devices upon reenergization of the supply conductor after a momentary deenergization thereof following energization of each portion of said devices.

3. The combination of} a pair ofelectric translating devices, a supply conductor for said devices, and electroresponsive switch :mechanism interconnected with said devices and said conductor and having a thermal responsive operating member movable between two positions for operating said switch mechanism to effect energization of different portions of said devices upon reenergization of the conductor after correspondingly different periods of deenergization thereof following a period of energizatlon of each portion of said translating devices.

' 4. The combination of a plurality of electric translating devices, a supply conductor for said devices, and electroresponsive switch mechanism interconnected with said conductor and having a thermal current responsive operating means operable during deenergization of the sup ly conductor responsively to the heating e ect of prior energization of the conductor to efiect the separate energization of a predetermined portion of 'said devices upon reenergization of the conductor only after a limited period of deenergization of the conductor.

- 5. The combination of a plurality of electric translating devices, a supply conductor for said devices, and electroresponsive switch mechanism interconnected with said conductor and said devices and having a movable circuit controlling member biased to one circuit closing position to effect the separate energization of a predetermined portion of said devices upon the initial energization of said conductor, said movable circuit controlling member being operable to the second circuit closing position upon deenergization of the supply conductor responsively to the heating effect of prior energization of the conductor to efiect the separate energization of ajditferent portion of said devices upon reenergization thereof within a limited time interval.

6. The combination of a plurality of electric translating devices, a supply conductor for said devices, electroresponsive switch mechanism connected to be energized from said circuit and arranged .to operate from a predetermined circuit controlling position to another circuit controlling position during deenergization of said conductor responsive to the heating effect of prior energization of the conductor, and connections controlled by said switch mechanism through which different portions of said translating devices are se arate'ly energized in each circuit controlling position of said switch mechanism.

7. \The combination of a plurality of electric translating devicesfa supply circuit 105 therefor, an electroresponsive switch mecha nism connected to be energized from said circu1t and based to a predetermined circuit mined position to another circuit controlling position and maintain the switch mechanism therein for a limited time interval during deenergization of said circuit and to maintain the switch mechanism in said other circuit controlling position upon reenergization of the circuit within said time interval, and connections controlled by said switch mechanism through which different portions of said devices are separately energized in each of said circuit controlling ositions.

8. Theicombination of a plurality of electric translating devices, a supply circuit therefor, an electroresponsive switch mechanism interconnected with said circuit and said devices and biased to effect the separate energization of apredetermined portion of said devices upon the initial energization of said circuit, said switch mechanism being pro vided with a thermal responsive element arranged to be electrically heated during ener gization of said predetermined portion of said devices for eflecting operation of the switch mechanism to a different circuit controlling position upon deener'gization and quick. reenergization of said circuit, and connections through which a difierent portion of saiddvices are separately energized and said thermostatic element is electrically heated upon reenergization of said circuit during said time interval. a

9. The combination in a selective control system of a supply conductor, a plurality of translating devices, a selective circuit controlling device for connecting the translating devices to be separately energized from the supply conductor, said circuit controlling device'h aving a thermal responsive movable operating element connected to be heated whena each translatingdeviceis energized from the supply conductor forautomatically selecting the translating device to be next energized from the supply conductor in accordance with different periods of cooling of the thermal responsive element, and means for controlling the su ply of energy to the translating devices or controlling the cooling of the said thermal responsive operating element to determine the translating device to be energized from the suppl conductor.

10. The com ination in a selective control system of asupply conductor, a plurality of translating devices adapted to be separately energized from the supply conductor, a thermal responsive circuit controlling device selectively operable between a plurality of circuit closing positions in accordance with diffcrent periods of heating and cooling thereof for energizing the translating devices separately from the supply conductor, and means for controlling the heating and cooling of the said thermal device to control the selection of the next translating device to be energized -tion of said from thesupply conductor following energization of each one ofvsaiditranslating devices.

. 11. The combination in a selective control system of a supply conductor, a plurality of translating devices adapted to be separatelv energized from the supply conductor, a

selective c1rcu1t controlling device havlng a plurality of circuit closing positions and biased toeach position when operated thereto, for energizing the translating devices septhe said selective device having a thermal responarately from the supply conductor,

sive movable member for operating the selective device against the bias thereof, and means for controlling the supply of energy to the supply conductor forcontrolling the operation of said member to control the selecdevices to be energized ifrom the supply conductor following energization of each one of said translating devices.

12. The combination in a selective control system of a supply conductor, two lamps ar anged to receive energy from the supply conductor, a switching device for selectively energizing the said lamps separately from the-supply conductor, the said device having a thermostatic operating element arranged to be heated by the current taken by a lamp and a switch memberbiased to each of two circuit closing positions when operated thereto by the thermostatic element when the supply of energy ceases, electromagnetic means for holding thei said switch member in an operated position, and a switch for cutting off the supply of energy to said conductor to cause the said thermostatic element to operate -'the said switch member to select the other of said lamps to be energized from the supply conductor.

' In wltness'whereof, I'have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of April, 1924.

BENJAMIN w. JONES. 

